Biological and economic feasibility of pruning and excising white pines for blister rust control

Abstract

White pine plantations which were established in 1968 on 88 acres of the Palouse Ranger District, Clearwater National Forest, were treated by pruning and canker excision to remove lethal white pine blister rust cankers. The success rate 15 months after treatment was 98 percent for pruning and 81 percent for excisions. Future growth and development of the stands were projected using a stand growth model. Economic analysis based upon these projections yielded positive benefit/cost ratios for both pruning alone and pruning with canker excision